DEAR ABBY: I'm a single mother, newly relocated to a small town, new job and new boyfriend. I have been dating "Kyle" for six months and keep running into the same issue repeatedly.
While Kyle is very successful in business -- he's never been married or had children -- when we are out and the check arrives, if another friend who may be with us or I don't pick up the entire tab, he pays for his portion only. Only a few times has he actually paid for both of us, but never for the rest of the group. Some of our male friends have been embarrassed by this and have taken the check themselves. Instead of stepping up to the plate and insisting on paying for at least some of the dinners, Kyle nonchalantly will ask something to the effect of, "Do I need to put anything in?"
Abby, I'm usually very accepting of people and try not to make too much of things like this, but lately, my friends have been commenting about it and telling me I can do better than Kyle. What do you think? -- EMBARRASSED IN IDAHO
DEAR EMBARRASSED: I think your friends may be right. You could be contemplating a future with a skinflint. The next time Kyle asks that question, you should say, "I'll say! It's your turn to pick up the check!"